This article is written by Vei Li Soo and Yueh Mei Liu, republished with permission from the Mathematical

Association of Victoria

MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM SOLVING

BACKGROUND In cases where language of comparison, In addition, it brings across and reinforces For this problem, students might carry out In addition, being equipped with a tool for
e.g. more than, less than, are used, the concepts of multiplicative thinking and 3
10 mechanically as an algorithm. problem solving and knowing that they will
Shortly before the latest release of PISA 5
comparison model below can be used to proportional reasoning which many not be lost among the quantities given will
2012 results, Dr Lianghuo Fan said in an
solve addition and subtraction problems. struggling learners of mathematics fail to This reflects a poor understanding of the build students confidence and a positive
article on BBC Skillswise (2 Dec 2013)
Addition would be used to find the total of grasp. In the upper primary and middle relationship between the quantities given in attitude towards word problems.
that People have different views about the
the two quantities. Subtraction would be school years, the Model Method can be the problem that 10 is not the quantity
reason for Singapore students performance, ABOUT THE AUTHORS
used to find the difference between the two extended to algebra as a visual approach representing all the children. Using the
but one thing that is universally agreed is
quantities, or to find one quantity given the to help students understand and formulate Model Method, the problem becomes Yueh Mei and Vei Li are authors of a
that the Singapore model method is key.
other one and one other information. algebraic equations. visually clearer and students would be able professional development series workbook
The Bar Model Method plays an important to work out the solution. More importantly, Mathematical Problem Solving The
A COMPARISON MODEL The process of solving a word problem the Model Method reinforces the concept
role in the primary school mathematics Bar Model Method. Yueh Mei conducts
using the Model Method provides students of fraction of the whole and gives students a professional development in Singapore
curriculum in Singapore since its ? Difference with opportunities to communicate their visual tool to understand the concept and around the world sharing with teachers
introduction by the Ministry of Education
Smaller understanding of the problem with a visual involved, the relationship between the
in the 1980s. This method is an innovation the use of the Model Method and features
quantity Total representation. This simple modeling
in teaching and learning (Kho, Yeo & Lim, quantities and why 53 10 is incorrect. of mathematics in Singapore. Vei Li is a
Larger process helps them analyse the relationships Numeracy Coach who also trains teachers
2009), to address a national problem in the
quantity between the known and unknown quantities Quite often, problem solving opportunities in and out of Australia. Both presented this
1970s where students were not achieving
in the problem before they proceed to in the primary schools are limited because paper at the 2013 MAV conference.
basic numeracy skills and were not able to A comparison model where there are construct a logical plan to solve the problem teachers feel that some problems can be
solve word problems sufficiently well. equal units indicates the use of either using the four operations. In the absence solved only using algebraic methods and REFERENCES
multiplication or division depending which of key words such as altogether and left,
Against this backdrop, a team from the students have not learnt algebra. Example 4
quantity is given, as seen in the following students have a strategy to guide their Liu, Y.M., Soo, V. L., (2014). Mathematical
Primary Mathematics Project led by Dr Kho is a problem which is accessible to students
two examples. approach whilst building their mathematical Problem Solving The Bar Model Method.
Tek Hong worked on producing instructional before they have learnt algebra:
reasoning capacity. Scholastic Education International
materials to improve the quality of teaching Example 1
Example 4 (Singapore).
and learning in mathematics and developed
? Pedagogically, this method is aligned to
the Model Method for problem-solving. A sandwich and a cup of coffee cost $11. Kho, T.H., Yeo, S. M., & Lim, J. (2009).
Bruners enactive mode, iconic mode and
symbolic mode ideas (1961). The Model The coffee is $3 cheaper than the cup of The Singapore Model Method for Learning
THE BAR MODEL AS A VISUAL
Method, pictorial in nature, is a bridge sandwich. How much is the sandwich? Mathematics. Singapore: EPB Pan Pacific.
REPRESENTATION
15 for students moving from the concrete Skillswise For Life. Can the Singapore method
$3
There are two main types of bar models. In example 1, the quantity for one unit is to visualising the abstract and presenting help your children learn maths?. British
Students draw either the part-whole model given. To find the unknown, the abstract in the form of mathematical Coffee
$11 Broadcasting Corporation. 2 Dec 2013.
or the comparison model to represent the equations.
1 unit = 15 www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/0/24925787
quantities given in a word problem. This Sandwich
visual representation gives the students a Besides being a problem solving strategy,
3 units = 3 x 15 = 45 the Model Method can be used as a concept ?
better idea of how the known and unknown If the first bar is extended to make the
quantities in the word problem are related, Example 2 builder as seen in the following problem: two bars equal, the total becomes
making the understanding of word problems Yueh Mei and Vei Li will present on
92 Example 3 $11 + $3 = $14
more accessible to students. the Model Method at the 2014 MAV
3 conference. Be sure to register for the
A PART-WHOLE MODEL of the class are girls. The rest are boys. Now, 2 units = $14
5 conference early as popular options fill
There are 10 boys. How many girls are
Whole 1 unit = $14 2 = $7 quickly, www.mav.vic.edu.au.
? there?

In example 2, the total is given. To find the Boys The sandwich costs $7.
Girls
Part unknown: Teachers of mathematics in the primary and
Part
4 units = 92 middle years will find the Model Method
The part-whole model above can be used ? valuable as one of the key strategies for
to solve problems involving addition and 10
1 unit = 92 4 = 23 solving word problems.
subtraction such as
There are 10 boys so,
TEACHING AND LEARNING WITH With a general strategy that is applicable
given a part and a part, students add to THE BAR MODEL METHOD from lower primary years, they can help
2 units = 10
find the whole their students progress beyond working on
The Model Method can be taught in 1 unit = 10 2 = 5 fluency with numbers, fractions, ratio and
given the whole and a part, students the early years of primary school and percentage to applying these concepts to
subtract to find the other part. used consistently as a general problem- 3 units = 3 x 5 = 15 a variety of challenging word problems,
solving strategy through to middle years making the learning of mathematics more
for concepts involving whole numbers, There are 15 girls. THE MATHEMATICAL
meaningful and successful.
fractions, ratio and percentage. ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA